Morgan Stanley maintains Sherwin-Williams stock rating despite sales guidance cut

Published 22/07/2025, 14:48
Morgan Stanley maintains Sherwin-Williams stock rating despite sales guidance cut

Investing.com - Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has reiterated an Overweight rating and $385.00 price target on Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW), currently trading at $333.91, despite expectations of a negative market response to the company’s results and outlook. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets range from $258 to $420, with the stock currently appearing overvalued based on Fair Value analysis.

The paint manufacturer, with trailing twelve-month revenue of $23.04 billion and an impressive 48.72% gross profit margin, has cut its full-year sales guidance for its Performance Coatings Group (PSG), with volume components showing downward revisions in both PSG and Consumer Brands Group (CBG), while the Performance Coatings Group (PCG) projections moved upward.

Price and mix expectations have shifted, with the company now forecasting low-single-digit percentage decreases in CBG and PCG, compared to previous expectations of low-single-digit percentage increases, though PSG price projections improved.

Sherwin-Williams has maintained its investment spending levels despite slower-than-expected market recovery, a decision Morgan Stanley describes as "both the high quality thing to do and the right thing for the business through the cycle."

The company’s raw material costs are now guided to be flat versus the previous low-single-digit percentage increase forecast, but this positive development is insufficient to offset reduced sales guidance, while the company also faces $10 million in incremental building expenses and $25 million in other expenses, partially offset by $10 million in lower interest costs.

In other recent news, Sherwin-Williams reported second-quarter earnings that fell below expectations, with adjusted earnings per share coming in at $3.38, missing both Citi’s estimate of $3.80 and the consensus forecast of $3.81. The company attributed this shortfall to earlier-than-anticipated building transition costs and targeted growth investments. Despite the earnings miss, Evercore ISI reiterated an Outperform rating with a $400.00 price target, while Citi maintained a Neutral rating with a $385.00 price target. However, Citi downgraded Sherwin-Williams due to concerns about the U.S. housing market recovery, highlighting elevated mortgage rates as a significant factor impacting the company’s outlook.

Additionally, Sherwin-Williams declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.79 per share, payable on September 5, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2025. The home improvement sector, in which Sherwin-Williams operates, is experiencing stable yet soft trends, according to a KeyBanc survey. The survey revealed that consumer confidence is a major concern, along with cost inflation and labor shortages affecting contractors. These developments provide a comprehensive view of the challenges and expectations facing Sherwin-Williams and the broader home improvement sector.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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